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' A. MAUGHAIN.

SCHOOL DESK.

No. 492,940. Patented'Mar. 7, 1893.

9 t e h e e h S 2 H. mm C m MG. 8 m d o M O W No. 492,940. Patented Mar. '7, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARMAND MAUOHAIN, OF GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.

SCHOOL-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,940, dated March '7, 1893.

Application filed March 19, 1892. Serial No. 425,581. (No model.) Patented in Switzerland August 15. 1891, No. 3,925.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, ARMAND MAUCHAIN, of Geneva, Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in School and other Desks, (for which Letters Patent have been granted in Switzerland, dated August 15, 1891, No. 3,925,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention is designed to allow the desk top to be raised more or less and to be inclined at any desired angle, thus adapting the desk or table to use when the person is sitting or standing, and while especially adapted to sohool'desks it may be employed wherever available.

Between the stationary frame or legs of the desk and the top plate thereof an intermediate frame is introduced hinged at the back to the stationary legs or frame and at the front to the desk top or table, and there are segmental racks at the back connected at their upper ends with the desk top and held by pawls by which the inclination of the desk can be varied, and near the front edge of the intermediate frame similar racks are applied for varying the height of the front edge of such desk or table top.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the desk complete. Fig. 2 is asection at the line a y of Fig. 1 with the desk top in its highest position. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the segmental racks, and Fig. 4, is a plan view of one of the pawl plates.

The ends or legs A B of the desk, the back 0 and the front F are of any desired or ordinary character, and there may be a holder or book box between the end pieces A B of any desired character. There is a frame D between the stationary portion or legs of the desk and the top H, and such frame D is hinged at i c to the back 0 of the desk, and the frame D is also hinged at d to the top H at the under side and near the front edge of the top. The segmental racks E and I are similarly made, but generally the rack I is the longest. The racks E are permanently fastened to the frame D and the racks I are permanently fastened at their upper ends to the desk top H, and the teeth of the rack E are engaged by the pawl slat G that is hinged at f to the front F of the desk, and the pawl slat J is hinged at 1 upon the frame D and its edge engages the teeth upon the rack I. It is preferable to make the rack teeth in the manner represented as pro jections at the sides of the segmental plates, to lessen the risk of the fingers being caught by the rack teeth.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the segmental rack E is represented with teeth 6 upon the segmental plate e, and there is a projection E at the lower end of the rack E which engages the stop r upon the stationary portion of the desk to limit the upward movement of the frame D and the racks E, and there may be a similar stop 1 upon the lower end of each rack I to engage a stop 8 upon the end of the desk frame D to limit the upward movement of the racks I. It is advantageous to make the'slat G longer than the front of the desk and to provide the same with the handles 9 at the ends, whereby the slat G can be raised to disengage the edge thereof from the teeth upon the segmental racks E, and the slat J may also projeot and be provided with handles for the same object. It is now to be understood that the back of the desk top H can be raised, the top swinging upon the hinges d into any desired inclination, and the pawl slat J engages the teeth in succession to hold the desk in its inclined position, and by raising the front edge of the frame D, such frame D swings upon the hinges c and the pawl slat G engages the teeth of the racks E, holding the desk at the desired elevation, and by these movements the desk can be raised or lowered and held either in a horizontal position or at aninolination. The plate pawls GandJ being hinged at one edge are raised by the lifting of the pins and drop automatically, hence they are not liable to injure the fingers and the desk is easily adjusted by young persons.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination in a desk with the stationary portion or legs, of the frame D hinged at one edge to the stationary portion, the top H hinged at the opposite edge of the frame D, the segmental racks I rigidly connected at their upper ends to the under side of the top H, and a hinged automatic plate pawl J engaging the rack teeth, the segmental racks E rack teeth, the segmental racks E rigidly connected at their upper ends to the frame D and having inwardly projecting teeth, and a Y hinged automatic plate pawl G engaging said rack teeth, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARMAND MAUOIIAIN.

WVitnesses:

G. IMER SCHNEIDER, S. PRENTICE N AY LOB. 

